Waltee d



(No-Model.) v

W. D. WESSON.

Hand Stamp.

No. 236,742. Patented Jan. 18, I881.

//VVEN 717/7;

N. PETERS, PHOTKLLITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTONv D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER D. WESSON, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

HAND-STAM P.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 236,742, dated January 18, 1881.

Application filed June 21, 1880.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WALTER 1). WESSON, of the city of Providence, in the county of Providence, in the State of Rhode Island, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Postage- Stamp Obliterators and Postmarkers; and declare the following to be a specification thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

Like letters indicate like parts.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my invention. Figs. 2 and 3 are detail views.

My invention relates to those postmarking instruments in common use in post offices which are adapted to simultaneously blot or disfigure the postage-stamp and to print upon the postal matter the place and date of mailing.

My invention consists in the use of a cylindrical block of cork for an obliterator, having a bearing directly upon the transverse bar of the implement, and being perforated diametrically to receive a stud of the type-cylinder, for the purpose of holding the obliterator in position.

The obliterators in common use are made of cork, the outer end of which has a plane surface to blot the postage-stamp with ink, while the inner end is cut tapering to fit into a cupsocket upon the bar. The disadvantage of this arrangement is that by repeated use the cork is cut by the edges of the socket, and is liable to be displaced or loosened, and so not only does the cork soon become unfit for use,

but the obliterating surface does not remain in the same plane with the surface of the type of the postmarker, and consequently does not uniformly or sufficiently deface the postagestamp.

The parts of my invention are as follows:

A handle, A, is provided with a fixed transverse bar, B, to which is fastened the postmarker 0, wherein are contained the types to print the place and date of mailing. A cylindrical block of cork, D, the two ends of which are parallel, has a diametrical perforation, G, extending through it transversely. By means of this perforation the block D is fitted and engaged upon a stud, E, which projects at a right angle from the side of the postmarker, in a (No model.)

direction parallel with the central longitudinal line of the bar B, as shown in Fig. 2. The inner end of the block D fits firmly and snugly against the inner surface of the bar B, which thus furnishes a bearing to resist the pressure of the blow upon the obliterating-surface of the block D. The outer end of the block D forms the obliterating-surface which inks the face of the postage-stamp. By thus holding the block rigidly in position the outer end is kept constantly in the same plane with the postmarking surface and a uniform and even impression is insured.

It may be desirable to insert a metallic tube to fit tightly within the perforation Gr, and also to slit and slightly spring apart the stud E, as shown at F, for the purpose of more securely holding the block D upon the stud E by the lateral pressure of the spring.

By using a block, D, cylindrical throughout 1 am able to utilize both ends of it, so that it can be transposed at pleasure and be capable of double service.

Different devices may be out upon the two ends of the block, as in Fig. 3, to denote such information relative to the cancellation of the stamp as the postal regulations may require; and by transposing the position of the block, so as to bring either end to the exterior to form an obliterating-surface, the same block can be used to imprint either device, as desired.

I claim as a novel and useful invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The perforated cylindrical block D, having parallel ends to serve interchangeably as obliterating-surfaces, and secured in position by means of the stud E of a postmarker, substantially as specified.

2. The cylindrical obliterator D, in combination with the bar B, handle A, and stud E, substantially as specified.

3. The combination of an obliterator, D, bar B, and postmarker O, connected by a stud, E, substantially as specified.

WALTER D. WESSON.

Witnesses CHARLES G. A. PETERSON, WARREN R. PERCE- 

